49/14. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 5402 — The Wisdom of Prophet Sulaiman
Ruling of a Judge Based on His Knowledge
Hadith About Prophet Sulaiman's Wise Judgment and Motherly Mercy
Sunan an-Nasai : 5402
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 5402
أَخْبَرَنَا عِمْرَانُ بْنُ بَكَّارِ بْنِ رَاشِدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَيَّاشٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الزِّنَادِ، مِمَّا حَدَّثَهُ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ الأَعْرَجُ، مِمَّا ذَكَرَ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، يُحَدِّثُ بِهِ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ وَقَالَ " بَيْنَمَا امْرَأَتَانِ مَعَهُمَا ابْنَاهُمَا جَاءَ الذِّئْبُ فَذَهَبَ بِابْنِ إِحْدَاهُمَا فَقَالَتْ هَذِهِ لِصَاحِبَتِهَا إِنَّمَا ذَهَبَ بِابْنِكِ . وَقَالَتِ الأُخْرَى إِنَّمَا ذَهَبَ بِابْنِكِ . فَتَحَاكَمَتَا إِلَى دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ فَقَضَى بِهِ لِلْكُبْرَى فَخَرَجَتَا إِلَى سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ دَاوُدَ فَأَخْبَرَتَاهُ فَقَالَ ائْتُونِي بِالسِّكِّينِ أَشُقُّهُ بَيْنَهُمَا . فَقَالَتِ الصُّغْرَى لاَ تَفْعَلْ يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ هُوَ ابْنُهَا . فَقَضَى بِهِ لِلصُّغْرَى " . قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ وَاللَّهِ مَا سَمِعْتُ بِالسِّكِّينِ قَطُّ إِلاَّ يَوْمَئِذٍ مَا كُنَّا نَقُولُ إِلاَّ الْمُدْيَةَ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: "There were two woman who had two children, and the wolf came and took away the son of one of them. She said to her companion: 'It took away your son.' The other one said: 'No, it took away your son.' They referred the matter to Dawud, peace be upon him, for judgment (about the remaining child) and he ruled in favor of the older one.Then they went out to Sulaiman bin Dawud and told him (about that). He said: 'Give me a knife and I will cut him in half (to be shared) between you.' The younger one said: 'Do not do that, may Allah have mercy on you; he is her son.' So he ruled that (the child) belonged to the younger woman." Abu Hurairah said: "By Allah! I never heard 'Sikkin' used until that day. We would only say: 'Mudyah.'"
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 5402In-book reference : Book 49, Hadith 24English translation : Vol. 6, Book 49, Hadith 5404
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 5402
This hadith about Prophet Sulaiman's judgment tells the story of two women and one remaining child after a wolf took one of their sons. Each woman claimed the child was hers. Prophet Dawud ruled for the older woman, then they came to Prophet Sulaiman. He asked for a knife and said he would divide the child between them. The younger woman could not bear harm coming to the child, so she said not to do it and gave up her claim. Through that response, Sulaiman recognized the sign of real mercy and ruled that the child belonged to her. The hadith shows wise judgment, careful testing, and how compassion can reveal truth.
What we learn from this hadith
- A judge may look for signs that help uncover the truth.
- Real care for another person may appear through mercy and self-sacrifice.
- A wise response can reveal what words alone may hide.
- The story shows the value of careful judgment in hard disputes.
